NEWS & SUCCESS STORIES

News // February 03, 2014

Edible San Diego Hosts School Garden Contest

In schools and neighborhoods across the country, gardens have become
a powerful tool for promoting learning, healthy living, environmental
awareness, and social connections. Research shows that students who
participate in school garden programs score higher on academic tests
and consume more fruits and vegetables.

Inspired by the benefits of school gardens and invested in promoting
healthier food and the understanding of how and where food comes from
to children and families, Edible San Diego
is hosting a School Garden of the Year Contestthis
spring.

Edible San Diego’s idea for the contest came
from another Edible publication in New Jersey that sponsored a school
garden contest as a way of encouraging and bringing interest to the
school gardens in their area. Their contest was very successful, with
more than 150 schools participating.

Schools with gardens
in San Diego are invited to enter to win awards in the following categories:

• Best Nutrition Education-based Garden
• Garden With the Best Community Collaboration
• Best Environmental Education-focused Garden
• Overall Best School Garden of the Year

The contest is open to any type of elementary school (K through 6),
including public, independent, parochial, and charter.

Schools participate by showing how they use their gardens in
lessons, how they use the food produced, and how the community
participates. Photo documentation and a written description are
required as part of the application. The contest covers gardens in
existence during the 2013-2014 school year.

The Overall
Best School Garden of the Year award winner will receive a grant to be
used for the purchase of garden equipment and materials, etc. (amount
depending on sponsor contributions). Winners of the other three
categories will receive smaller cash awards.

The winners will also be the subject of a story (minimum 3 pages) in
the Fall 2014 issue of Edible San Diego.

All of the funds will be awarded to the winners and will not be used
for contest expenses. Schools must submit Participation Form
online by April 15, 2014. Submit application by May 1, 2014
(application information available soon).

Contest information, participation form and sponsorship information
are all online. Or contact Edible San Diego for more information: info@ediblesandiego.com

Edible San Diego, a local magazine with a mission to feature the
local sustainable food community, emphasizing healthy food options,
local food producers, food justice and healthy lifestyle choices.
Edible San Diego does stories on the farmers, ranchers, fishermen,
chefs, purveyors of locally produced foods, gardeners and school
garden projects, among other related stories.